People are one of the most important assets critical to the functions of contemporary government. The effective management of personnel in public agencies requires investing in these assets so that the organizations can accomplish their missions. In the public sector, personnel management requires working within the confines of law to provide a diverse and motivated workforce that is effective and fair in the implementation of policies. Civil servants are vital organizational assets and public personnel management is a key tool for holding these civil servants accountable for serving the public interest. Contemporary public personnel management is situated in a politicized environment that requires managing the tensions between merit and patronage. In addition, public personnel management takes place both within organizations, as well as outside traditional organizational boundaries. Managing within these complex human systems is a crucial task for today’s public leaders.